Alexander Zverev advanced to the French Open semi-finals on Tuesday with a 7-6 (3), 6-1, 6-3 victory over teenager Rafael Jódar. The German second seed overcame an early scare as Jódar raced to a 5-2 lead in the first set before Zverev broke back and dominated the remainder of the match.
Jódar, seeded 27th, had been one of the form players on clay this season, leading the ATP with 19 clay-court wins. However, after consecutive five-set matches earlier in the tournament, he faded physically following his failure to close out the opening set.
Zverev, a 24-time ATP title winner, now faces 20-year-old Jakub Mensik in the semi-finals. The draw has opened up significantly after early exits for top seeds Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic, leaving Zverev as the highest-ranked player remaining alongside Félix Auger-Aliassime.
The 29-year-old is chasing his first grand slam title, having lost three previous finals. His path to the semi-finals has been relatively straightforward, not facing a top-25 opponent. However, his pursuit of a major title continues to generate controversy due to domestic violence allegations from two former partners, which he denies.
Zverev’s defeat in last year’s Australian Open final was marked by protests from audience members. He settled a legal case with one accuser, Brenda Patea, out of court during the 2024 French Open.
